MR. CROLY ON THE APOCALYPSE. I had not seen Mr. CROLY's Work (himself one of the most splendid Poets of the age) till after these pages were printed. He has, I find, as I have done, appealed for some singular corroborations to Gibbon-turning the infidel into a witness for the truth. We differ materially as to most of the applications; but of the powerful eloquence, the richness of diction, and the singular coincidence of many circumstances which he has advanced in his work, there cannot be two opinions. Upon all points where I thought the interpretation could not be confirmed by striking historical facts, I have been silent. The Poem is founded on the tradition that the criminals in the dreary Island of Patmos were converted to Christianity by the banished Evangelist. The subject is peculiarly in unison with the aspect of the times; but it seems extraordinary that it should not, long since, have engaged the attention of the poet, when it unites picturesque description, the most sublime and awful imagery, and the most elevated and sacred interest. ix It must be confessed that a Hero of eighty years is rather unusual in a poem, and, unfortunately, I have described St. John, when in the island of Patmos, as upwards of ninety, being ten years older than he was at the time! This the reader will correct, and for "ninety," page 2, line 13, read " eighty." In page 52, after the last line, ending "we pass'd," he will add (A cry burst out, 'Let them pass on unhurt ;') Page 90, line 9, for "here lately come," read "here "lately came;" and line 14, for read read These few grey hairs for thy green laurel crown, Page 97, line 8, for Still shouted, Alleluia-Alleluia-reign, Page 148, last line, after "transparent hung," there should be a full stop. Page 152, lines 2 and 3, for read My days are well nigh told, and few remain, My days are well nigh told, but I shall live To speak to distant days, and to record; and line 13, for "has rais'd," read "hath rais'd," There are some inadvertent alliterations, which I need not point out, but which escaped me in writing. TIME. Four days. CHARACTERS. St. John. Mysterious Stranger. Præfect of the Roman Guard. Robber of Mount Carmel, converted. Grecian Girl and dying Libertine. Elders of Ephesus. Visions. WAR, AND THE NOISE OF BATTLE, AND THE HUM OF ARMIES, BY THEIR WATCH-FIRES, IN THE NIGHT, AND CHARGING SQUADRONS, ALL IN HARNESS BRIGHT, THE SWORD, THE SHIELD, THE TRUMPET, AND THE DRUMTHEMES SUCH AS THESE, TOO OFT, IN LOFTY SONG HAVE BEEN RESOUNDED, WHILE THE POET STRUNG HIS HIGH HEROIC LYRE, AND LOUDER SUNG OF CHARIOTS FLASHING THROUGH THE ARMED THRONG ;- MORE WORTHY OF THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SAGE, WHO (WHEN DEEP CLOUDS HIS COUNTRY HAVE O'ERCAST, AND SADDER COMES THE MOANING OF THE BLAST) TO GOD WOULD CONSECRATE A PARTING LAY OF HOLIER HOMAGE-ERE HE PASS AWAY. MARCH, 1832. |